 | Drakenstein Municipality addresses a possible cause of bad odourFollowing complaints of a bad odour in the Drakenstein area, Drakenstein Municipality launched a comprehensive investigation into two possible sources which operations fall under its control
07 February 2023 | Press Releases |
Press release (follow-up)
Drakenstein Municipality addresses a possible cause of bad odour
3 February 2023
Following complaints of a bad odour in the Drakenstein area, Drakenstein Municipality launched a comprehensive investigation into two possible sources which operations fall under its control and jurisdiction: the Wellington Landfill Site; and the adjacent maturation ponds of the Wellington Wastewater Treatment Works. The third possible source is operations at the crematorium in Dal Josaphat, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Cape Winelands District Municipality (CWDM).
The Municipality’s investigation has ruled out the Landfill Site as a source, and has found that a veldfire that had spread to the maturation ponds could possibly have contributed to the bad odour. When this came to the Municipality’s attention, it immediately deployed its Fire Services teams to extinguish the fire – first by spraying thousands of litres of water onto the surface, and later by applying a layer of foam which acted as a wetting agent that is absorbed deeply into the ponds.
When the fire and smoke persisted - mostly smouldering beneath the surface of the ponds - the Municipality’s Fire Services devised methods to extinguish the fire underneath the surface. An excavator has also been employed to open up the area – up to the lowest level – to ensure that there is no danger of any flare-ups.
The fire is now fully extinguished and no longer emits any unpleasant odours. Fire Services however continues to monitor the situation, so that they can immediately attend to any flare-ups should they occur.
The Municipality views the matter of the bad odour in a very serious light, and had senior officials and technical teams from its Engineering Services Department, and Fire Services, on site. Alderman Conrad Poole, Executive Mayor, and relevant members of his Mayoral Committee also inspected the site. The Municipality can further assure residents that necessary measures are in place to prevent bad odours from spreading.
The third possible source of the bad odour is operations at the crematorium. On 1 February 2023, Drakenstein Municipality and the CWDM, who is responsible for air quality monitoring of certain activities in the district, met to discuss possible sources of the odour - together with officials of the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning.
The CWDM released a statement yesterday in which it indicated that its investigation into the matter had been completed. “It has been found that the crematorium in [sic] unlikely to be the cause of odours on any of the other nights that odours were reported (7 and 20 January 2023), as they were not operational at the time,” reads the CWDM’s statement.
The CWDM further assured Drakenstein Municipality that it would continue monitoring the operations at the crematorium.
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Issued by: Communication and Marketing, Drakenstein Municipality
Press release
1 February 2023
Drakenstein Municipality regards the matter of the bad odour experienced by some of our residents in a very serious light. The Municipality launched a comprehensive investigation into the matter and will keep the public updated. Necessary prevention measures will also be put in place to prevent bad odours from spreading in the future.
Our preliminary investigation has indicated that the crematorium, Wellington Wastewater Treatment Works and the Landfill Site might be possible causes of the bad odour.
The Cape Winelands District Municipality (CWDM) is responsible for air quality monitoring in the district, and has assured Drakenstein Municipality that the matter will receive the necessary attention. Drakenstein Municipality is assessing the situation at the Wellington Wastewater Treatment Works and the Landfill Site. The Municipality will keep our residents informed of any new developments.
It should be kept in mind that continued high-stage Eskom loadshedding is taking its toll on infrastructure, and could be exacerbating problems.
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Issued by: Communication and Marketing, Drakenstein Municipality
